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BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Doechii's Glastonbury slot is all part of her five-year plan
In 2023, Doechii announced she was three years into her five-year plan for becoming one of the biggest names in music."By year five I want to be at my peak," she told Billboard magazine."I want to be in my Sasha Fierce era, the top of my game with still a long way to go - but I want to reach my prime and never leave it."Back then, it felt like a bold claim. The Florida-born rapper and singer had scored a couple of viral hits - most notably Persuasive, an ode to marijuana that ended up on Barack Obama's summer playlist - but nothing that had crossed over to the mainstream jump-cut to 2025 and Doechii is a Grammy Award-winning "woman of the year", who's about to play one of the most hotly-anticipated sets at Glastonbury hard to identify the turning point. Some people say it was her mesmerising performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last her hair carefully braided to her backing dancers, she delivered a meticulously-choreographed performance of Boiled Peanuts and Denial Is a River - a cartoonish character piece, in which she confides to her therapist that her boyfriend's been cheating on her with another man. Others pinpoint her Tiny Desk Concert, released on YouTube two days later. The 15-minute set bursts with joie de vivre, simultaneously soulful and fiery, as the star rattles through jazzy, full-band recreations of her mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal. She won even more fans at the Grammys in March, where she won best rap album, making her just the third female artist to win in the her speech, she spoke directly to young, black, queer women like her: "Don't allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you, to tell you that you can't be here, that you're too dark or that you're not smart enough or that you're too dramatic or you're too loud."She capped off her win with an ultra-physical performance that referenced Michael Jackson, Missy Elliott and Bob Fosse - and ended with her pulling the splits while being held aloft by five male dancers. With three "star-is-born" performances in just four months, Doechii became the most talked-about new rapper of her generation... just like she planned. So where did it all start? Doechii was born Jaylah Ji'mya Hickmon in Tampa, Florida and raised in a "heavily Christian" single-parent household by her mother, Celesia Moore.A studious kid who loved writing poetry, she invented her alter-ego at the age of 11, after being viciously bullied in school."I was in a position where I thought about killing myself because the bullying was so bad," she told Dazed magazine in February."Then I had this realisation: I'm not gonna do that, because then they're gonna all get a chance to live and I'm gonna be the one dead."Overnight, her attitude shifted."Jaylah might've been getting bullied, but I decided Doechii wouldn't stand for that," she recalled in an interview with Vulture. "And then," she told The Breakfast Club, "I went to school in a tutu and I started doing music." As a teenager, she spent four years at Tampa's Howard W. Blake School of the Arts, after winning a place on the choral programme by performing Etta James' At Last. The school unlocked her creativity, allowing her to take classes in everything from nail design and hair, to ballet, tap, cheerleading and stage production. However, it was gymnastics that left the biggest impression."The way that gymnasts train is really, really tough. It's brutal and hard and difficult," she told Gay Times. "But at some point in my gymnastic career I learnt how to embrace and really love pain. To view pain as me getting stronger and better. That caused a deep discipline that has never left me."The school also helped the teenager accept her sexuality."Even though I was aware [that I was queer], I didn't feel as comfortable until I started surrounding myself with more gay friends at my school. "Once I had gay friends it was like, 'OK, I can be myself, I'm good, I can feel safe, this is normal, I'm fine.' I have those same friends today and will have them for life."That's not all they gave her: Those same friends convinced Doechii to give up her ambitions of becoming a chorister, and start writing and releasing her own music. Initially called iamdoechii, she uploaded her first song to Soundcloud in 2016, and released her debut single Girls two years later. It already bore the hallmarks of her best work: Rhythmically and lyrically dextrous, and chock full of personality. "Taking nudes / None of them for you," she chided over a mellow electric piano, before the beat switched up and her rapping became more frenetic. By the closing bars, she barely had time catch breath as she listed her accomplishments. "Making money from my phone, huh / Doechii finally in her zone."The lines were more prophecy than reality. Doechii had a solid following on YouTube, but she was still working at Zara to make ends meet. In 2019, she was booked for a showcase in New York City and hopped on a bus - without the money for her return trip. "The night after, I slept at a McDonald's," she recalled in a 2022 interview. "And then I had to call one of my mom's friends... and, like, beg her to let me sleep at her house. And I ended up living there until I got back on my feet." 'Drowning in vices' Things started to turn around with the release of 2020's Yucky Blucky Fruitcake, named after Junie B. Jones's children's book, in which Doechii sketched out her own to the lyrics, she was precocious ("I try to act smart 'cause I want a lot of friends"), competitive ("I get a little violent when I play the game of tag") and frequently broke ("My momma used stamps 'cause she need a little help").The song marked a breakthrough in her writing."I was lacking this sense of vulnerability and honesty in my music," she told Billboard, until "I learned accuracy and just saying exactly what it is, like on Lucky Blucky Fruitcake".The song went viral, winning her a record deal with Top Dawg Entertainment - the label that launched Kendrick Lamar and SZA. She followed it up with the effortlessly hooky Persuasive, earning praise from SZA (who jumped on a remix) and former President Barack Obama."I can't imagine Obama just jamming my song," she exclaimed. "I just don't believe it, but if he really does – that's crazy." Doechii next collaborated with Kodak Black on the 2023 single What It Is (Block Boy), earning her first Top 40 hit. Then, everything stalled. Subsequent singles flopped, and Doechii was, as she later wrote on social media, "drowning in my own vices, battling differences with my label and a creative numbness that broke me".Initially, her Alligator Bites Never Heal mixtape looked set to repeat the pattern. Released last August, it entered the US charts at number 117 and vanished a week reviews were ecstatic. Critics loved the acerbic, funny lyrics, that saw Doechii unpack the trials and tribulations of the last two years; and heaped praise on bars that recalled greats such as Q-Tip, Lauryn Hill and Slick Rick, while keeping pace with contemporaries like Kendrick Lamar. After a period dominated by the mumbled bars of Souncloud rap, her precision was a breath of fresh air."One of the year's most fully-realized breakout albums," wrote Rolling Stone. "If this is the sound of Doechii pushing against constraints, a little friction might not be the worst thing," added Pitchfork. As word spread, she was booked to play the Colbert show and Tiny Desk. Those performances lit a rocket under her career. By April, Alligator had chomped into the US Top 10, and the UK Top 40. Around the same time, she bowed to fan pressure by releasing her 2019 YouTube song, Anxiety, a pop-rap crossover based on a sample of Gotye's Somebody That I Used To Know. With an eye-catching video that recreated a full-on panic attack, it hit number three in the UK, and even earned Doechii a citation in medical journal Psychology Today."The song and accompanying video work so well in showing exactly how anxiety feels in our bodies and minds," wrote Professor Sandra Chafouleas. "Think about quick and short breaths, racing thoughts, and worrying about things that haven't happened yet. Anxiety feels like 'Anxiety' sounds, with brilliant mirroring of how the experience can hijack us."Since then, Doechii's been hard at work on her debut album. There'd been rumours she'd release it in time for her Glastonbury slot on Saturday night, but perfectionists have got to perfect. At the time of writing, she's still in the to Dazed, she dropped a few hints of what's in store. "In Alligator Bites Never Heals, the archetype was a student of hip-hop. For this next project, I'm thinking about how this student develops. "Who does she develop into? What has she learned? I'm still unpacking how that character develops into this next project."Despite the delay, Doechii's headline set remains one of Glastonbury's biggest draws. She might only be performing for 45 minutes, but she'll make every one of them the star boasted on her single Nosebleeds: "Will she ever lose? Man, I guess we'll never know."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lorde Says MDMA Therapy ‘Changed the Game' on Her Stage Fright
Lorde is opening up about how MDMA therapy helped her overcome debilitating stage fright, crediting the treatment with changing her relationship with live performance entirely. During an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, the pop star candidly discussed how she once suffered from 'truly the most horrific stage fright' that dated back to her early childhood in community theatre. When Colbert asked how she got past it, Lorde didn't hold back. 'Well, it's MDMA therapy,' she said. 'Truly, like, changed the game on my stage fright.' More from Billboard Carín León, Kapo, Netón Vega, Myke Towers, Laura Pausini & More Set for Billboard Latin Music Week 2025 Whitney Houston's 'The Bodyguard' Extends Its Lead as the Highest RIAA-Certified Soundtrack of All Time Shania Twain Stars in New Commercial for Clearly Canadian Sparkling Water: 'It's Pure Nostalgia in a Bottle' Lorde explained how the treatment worked for her when other forms of healing hadn't. 'Some of these things live very deep in the body, and you hold on to it,' she said. 'You hold on to a response like stage fright for reasons that no amount of talk therapy or brain use could get at. But when you bypass that and get to the body, something shifts. And that totally happened for me.' After trying 'everything' for her anxiety around performing, Lorde said she woke up the day after her MDMA therapy and instantly felt the shift: 'I was like, oh, it's over. I know it's over.' The revelation comes as Lorde gears up for the release of her new album Virgin, out June 27 via Republic Records. She recently dropped the final pre-release single 'Hammer' on June 20. The euphoric track, co-produced by Jim-E Stack, opens the album and has drawn comparisons to Lady Gaga's 'Poker Face' for its glitchy, electro-pop flair. Lorde described 'Hammer' as 'an ode to city life and horniness tbh' and has promised that Virgin will explore themes of rebirth, gender, spiritual transformation, and bodily autonomy. The album also includes production from Fabiana Palladino, Dan Nigro, Buddy Ross and Dev Hynes of Blood Orange, among others. She's been open about how her recent life changes influenced the record, from quitting birth control and experiencing disordered eating to ending a long-term relationship. The project's rawness is reflected in its visual aesthetic as well: 'The colour of the album is clear,' she wrote when announcing it. 'Like bathwater, windows, ice, spit. Full transparency.' Virgin is out Friday, June 27, with a Renell Medrano-directed video for 'Hammer' arriving the same day. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
The controversial remedy Lorde used to ‘cure stage fright' before Glastonbury set – it can help anxiety and PTSD too
LORDE has opened up about the unconventional therapy that helped her overcome crippling stage fright. The Royals singer kicked off Glastonbury festival earlier today with a surprise pre-lunchtime set to a packed crowd on the Woodsies stage. 4 4 4 Speaking on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert this week, the New Zealand pop star revealed she used MDMA - known by its street name ecstasy – to conquer her fear of performing. Asked how she moved past it, the 28-year-old replied: 'Well, it's MDMA therapy. Truly, like, changed the game on my stage fright.' MDMA therapy, also called MDMA-assisted therapy, involves taking a controlled dose of the drug in a supervised medical setting, alongside sessions with a trained therapist. It's designed to help people process difficult emotions or trauma in a calm, open state. A growing body of research shows MDMA-assisted therapy could help people with a range of psychological issues, including PTSD, anxiety and depression. Trials exploring its potential to treat marriage problems, alcoholism and long-term grief are also underway or imminent. In a controversial world first, since July 1, 2023, some psychiatrists in Australia have been allowed to prescribe MDMA for PTSD under strict medical supervision. This is unlike in Lorde's New Zealand, where MDMA is still illegal for general use and is classed as a controlled drug, meaning having it without permission can lead to jail time. Switzerland also permits limited use of MDMA in therapy, while Canada allows it through a special access programme. In the US, it's not yet legal, with full approval for treating PTSD denied just last year over concerns it was not effective enough. I watched in horror as my son, 16, was killed by super-strength ecstasy – my warning to parents ahead of Glastonbury The UK still classifies MDMA as a Class A drug, meaning it is illegal to possess, sell or prescribe, although campaigners are calling for change. The ban is largely due to concerns over its potential for abuse and side-effects. When used recreationally, it can lead to raised heart rate, anxiety, confusion and, in some cases, dangerous overheating, according to Talk to Frank. There's also the risk of impure street versions. But in a controlled medical setting, where the dose is pure and carefully monitored these risks are minimal. The drug works by stimulating the brain's production of serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline - chemicals associated with feeling good or happy. 4 This creates a sense of calm and emotional safety, making it easier for people to open up during therapy sessions. Experts say the drug helps people face painful memories or fears without becoming overwhelmed, allowing the brain to 'rewire' how it responds to stress. Trials have shown it can be especially effective for people who haven't responded to traditional treatments. The results were immediate Lorde detailed how the treatment helped where other approaches had failed. 'Some of these things live very deep in the body, and you hold on to it,' she said. 'You hold on to a response like stage fright for reasons that no amount of talk therapy or brain use could get at. "But when you bypass that and get to the body, something shifts. And that totally happened for me.' After trying 'everything' to manage her performance anxiety, Lorde said the results were immediate. 'I was like, oh, it's over. I know it's over.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Lorde reveals how 'anti-terror' cops shut down her NYC video shoot
The singer Lorde has described how her music video shoot in New York City was shut down by police. The 28-year-old artist had her performance in April scuttled by 'anti-terrorism' NYPD officers over crowd concerns. She detailed the shocking incident during an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Tuesday. Promoting her album Virgin, which goes on sale today, Lorde explained in detail the series of events that led to the filming of her video for What Was That? in Washington Square Park being stopped due to an amassing of fans who wanted to be present for the shoot. Colbert noted that 'such a mob showed up' in the famed park in Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, 'That the cops shut it down.' 'Yeah, we had the antiterrorism unit being very intense, telling me if I stepped on the premises I would be arrested for riot incitement,' the Royals singer said. The vocalist, whose real name is Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor, explained that she 'couldn't show up for many hours' as authorities sought to clear the area. The singer said she was later cleared to return to the park and finish production on the clip - but she had to nail it in a single take. 'I came back later, they said, "You can go out, you have one shot at it,"' Lorde explained. She continued: 'If people don't maybe know this, we were launching my first song for this album, but we were also shooting the music video, which would come out 24 hours later.' She said 'there was an edit that had to be gotten to very quickly' and that 'a lot of dominoes had to fall right for this to work.' In excerpts of the filming, Lorde was seen telling her fans they were 'so amazing' and that she loves them 'so much.' The NYPD issued a statement to People explaining in detail the series of events surrounding the video shoot. It read: 'On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at approximately 18:47 hours in the vicinity of Washington Square Park, in the confines of the 6th Precinct, officers were alerted of an unscheduled event inside of the park. 'A sound and parks permit is required to have a concert in a New York City Park. This individual did not possess either. They noted that 'organizers of the event were informed they could not perform and they left the location.' In the interview on Tuesday, Lorde explained the creative process as she prepares to release her fourth studio album, following 2013's Pure Heroine, 2017's Melodrama and 2021's Solar Power. The singer, who is gearing up to tour in support of the album beginning this fall, said that an artist learns 'so much' in the creative process of putting together a record. 'Honestly, I think of the process of making an album is going out on a quest,' the Hammer vocalist said. 'It's this real journey - you pick up these questions along the way. 'You're trying to really get somewhere. For me, the album is sort of a byproduct of that process.' She added: 'Like, I make the album because it's a period of so much discovery.'
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Lorde threatened with arrest for having concert without permit, Entertainment News
Lorde was threatened with arrest by anti-terrorism police. The 28-year-old singer had planned to film the music video for What Was That? in Washington Square Park in New York, but after posting about it on her Instagram Story, "such a mob showed up that the cops shut it down", and Lorde received a stern warning from officers. Speaking on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, she said: "We had the anti-terrorism unit being very intense, telling me if I stepped on the premises I would be arrested for riot incitement." The Royals hitmaker "couldn't show up for many hours" but eventually returned to the park to shoot the video on a tight timeline. She explained: "I came back later, they said, 'You can go out, you have one shot at it.' "If people don't maybe know this, we were launching my first song for this album, but we were also shooting the music video, which would come out 24 hours later. "So, there was an edit that had to be gotten to very quickly. "A lot of dominoes had to fall right for this to work. The NYPD was definitely a spanner." Following Lorde's revelation, police confirmed they intervened because she didn't have the right permits to be in the park with her fans. The New York Police Department (NYPD) told People magazine in a statement: "On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at approximately 1847 hours in the vicinity of Washington Square Park, in the confines of the 6th Precinct, officers were alerted of an unscheduled event inside of the park. "A sound and parks permit is required to have a concert in a New York City Park. This individual did not possess either. Organisers of the event were informed they could not perform and they left the location." Elsewhere during the interview, Lorde hailed MDMA therapy a game-changer when it came to tackling her "horrific" stage fright. She said: "Some of these things live very deep in the body, and you hold on to it. "You hold on to a response like stage fright for reasons that no amount of talk therapy or brain use could get at. But when you bypass that and get to the body, something shifts. And that totally happened for me." After having tried "everything" beforehand, the Royals hitmaker was delighted to get immediate relief from her performance anxiety. She said: "I was like, oh, it's over. I know it's over." [[nid:536915]]
